Receptacle for conveying coins

ABSTRACT

A receptacle for conveying coins has a hopper, a conveyor member mounted juxtaposition to the hopper for transporting the coins, a chute member at the bottom of the hopper adjacent to the conveyor for directing the coins against the conveyor member and cleats on the conveyor member for holding the coins during transportation.

United States Patent 11 1 Schweitzer 1 RECEPTACLE FOR CONVEYING COINS [75] Inventor: Earl O. Schweitzer, Wickliffe, Ohio [73] Assignee: Ardac, Inc., Willoughby, Ohio [22] Filed: Nov. 7, 1973 [21] App]. No.1 413,429

52 us. 01. 198/53; 198/198; 133/3 F;

221/254 151 1111.0? 865G 47/14 [58] Field 61 Search 198/47, 48, 53, 55, 198,

198/131, 34; 133/3 F, 8 E, 1 R, 3 R, 8 R; 221/160,218, 254

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS ()68 661 7/1913 Janik 1 1 1 133/8 E 1326,11? 12/1919 Th0mas.. 198/55 11188263 10/1928 Bull-ard 198/55 1 9343439 11/1933 Bock et a1. 133/3 F 2,157,110 5/1939 Bock ct a1 1. 198/53 14 1 Sept. 9, 1975 2,382,134 8/1945 Coons 198 55 2,810.467 10/1957 Bogaty. 198/47 2922645 1/1960 Hur1but.. 198/198 2.954.862 10/1960 Clark... 198/154 x 3.181.691 5/1965 Kagley 1 198/208 3 229,806 1/1966 Otto ct a1... 133/1 R 3,477.559 11/1969 Raasch 198/53 Primary Examiner-Evon C1 Blunk Assistant Examiner-Richard K. Thomson Attorney, Agent, or FirmOldham & Oldham Co. L.P.A.

[57] ABSTRACT A receptacle for conveying coins has a hopper, a conveyor member mounted juxtaposition t0 the hopper for transporting the coins, a chute member at the bottom of the hopper adjacent to the conveyor for directing the coins against the conveyor member and cleats on the conveyor member for holding the coins during transportation.

19 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTED SE? 975 SHEET 1 0F 2 FIE-1 PATENTED SEP 9 I975 FIEZ FIE-3 SHEET 2 [IF 2 RECEPTACLE FOR CONVEYING COINS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a receptacle for conveying coins. More specifically, the present invention relates to a receptacle in a paper note-coin changer machine for transporting coins to a dispensing apparatus.

Heretofore, in paper note-coin changer machines, the various sized coins of a particular currency have been stacked in appropriately sized cylinder and dispersed. However, the filling of the various sized cylinders with coins can be very time consuming where the coins have not been presorted. Furthermore, should the coins be sorted and contained in coin stacking cylinders, the possibility of coin foul-up exists when the coin does not lie flat upon one another. Another disadvantage of such prior art coin stackers is the jamming caused by bent coins as they are pushed out of the bottom of the stacking cylinder by a plunger. In order to alleviate this problem, the egress for the coin has often been enlarged. However, where the coins are very thin, such enlarged egress often permits the plunger to push out two coins instead of the desired single coin.

Another coin hopper which separates stacked coins in transporting them to a discharge chute has vibrating ramps covered with a specific material to cause the coins to move in only one direction. Such material may be mohair fabric having slanted pile so as to be resistant to deformation in one direction and compliant in the opposite direction. However, such a coin hopper while separating stacked coins and funneling them one by one into a dischrage chute, is so very sensitive to operate that it is highly impractical for ordinary useages. Moreover, such a hopper cannot handle multiple or various sized coins but only coins of a particular size.

Another form of a coin hopper merely employs a slanted chute which has openings of an increasing size to receive multiple sized coins. The chute is vibrated so as the various sized coins travel downwardly, the smaller coins fall into the corresponding opening and are thereby stacked. However, stacked coins or one smaller coin upon another larger coin will often travel across its designated opening and advance to the next larger size opening. Of course, such hopper is undesirable since it does not accurately separate each coin and thus permits the addition of a coin to the wrong stacking cylinder.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a coin hopper which is capable of transporting coins.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a coin hopper, which transports coins quickly and accurately on a one at a time basis, and which is capable of transporting multiple sized coins received into the same hopper.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a coin hopper which transports thin and bent coins of multiple sizes.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a coin hopper which transports multiple sized coins one at a time and returns any additional coins.

These and other objects of the present invention are described in detail without attempting to discuss all of the various modifications in which the invention might be embodied; the invention being measured by the appended claims and not by the details of the specification.

In general, a receptacle for conveying multiple sized coins comprises a hopper, a conveyor member mounted juxtaposition to the hopper for transporting the coins, a chute member located at the bottom of the hopper adjacent to the conveyor for directing the coins against the conveyor member and cleats on the conveyor member for holding the coins during transportation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a receptacle for conveying multiple sized coins.

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of a conveyor belt showing the coin cleats as well as the rollers.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of a coin stripper.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view showing the cleat attached to the conveyor.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A receptacle for conveying multiple sized coins according to the concepts of the present invention is generally indicated by the numeral I0. Generally, the receptacle has a hopper 11 with a top opening 12 through which the coins are added. Normally only coins of one size or denomination will be supplied to the hopper, but the invention can provide for multiple sized coins, and the same hopper, without any changes, can operate with coins of the size in US. denomination from a dime to a quarter. The receptacle also has a conveyor member generally indicated by the numeral 13 for transporting the coins to a sorting and stacking apparatus. In the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1, hopper 1], which may be rectangular, square and even curvilinear, has sides 14 with generally one side being comprised by conveyor member 13.

As seen in FIG. 1, hopper bottom 15 is inclined to allow the coins to slide towards the conveyor member and into hopper chute 16. The inclination of the hopper bottom with respect to a horizontal is at least 20. Hopper chute 16 has an opening I7 which is greater than the diameter of the largest coin so that the coins do not jam up at the chute opening. As shown in FIG. 1, hopper chute 16 is tapered to a point of close proximity to the conveyor member and then continues for a short distance at a very slight taper. Located at the bottom of the chute is a comb 18 preferably made out of plastic which prevents the coins from falling any further.

Conveyor member 13 may be any conventional conveyor belt and is mounted about bottom roller 22 and top roller 23. Top roller 23 may be mounted to the hopper housing or to the paper note-coin changer apparatus such that it can freely move in vertically orientated slot 23A. At least one rod spring, and preferably two, generally indicated by the numeral 24, are attached at one end to top roller axle 25A via axle housing 258. The other end is attached under tension to a bracket 26 which is secured to hopper 11 through fastening members 27. Thus, an upward tension is applied to axle 25A to keep the ccnyeyor belt taught and prevents undesirable flapping which causes the coins to fall. A desirable amount of tension has been found to be about 25 pounds.

Conveyor bottom roller 22 is connected to a drive gear 31 by any conventional manner. As seen in FIG. 1, drive gear 31 receives power from idler gear 32 which is driven by motor gear 33. Preferably motor 34 which drives gear 33 is operative on DC current and has a reducing gear box such as on the order of roughly 100 to I so that motor gear 33 turns at a fairly slow rate such as approximately 24rpms. Preferably, idler gear 32 has a l to 1 ratio with motor gear 33 as well as drive gear 31. These gears, moreover, may be made out of plastic such as nylon although, of course, metal may also be used.

Conveyor belt 13 has a plurality of cleats generally indicated by the numeral 36 attached thereto as shown in FIG. 2. As seen in FIGS. 2 and 4, cleat 36 which preferably is made of metal has a back plate 37 with tines 38 preferably extending at obtuse angles therefrom through the conveyor belt with corner portions 39 then bent to further engage the back of the conveyor belt and thereby secure the cleats to the belt. The lower portion of cleats 36 have buckets or flanges 41 which are so designed to hold only a single multiple sized coin of a particular currency. Preferably, flanges 41 are slightly bent more than 90 such as about 95 as shown in FIG. 4 so as to further help retain the coins. If U.S. coins are used, flanges 41 have a laterally inner extent or projection so they will just hold a dime and a laterally outward extent or projection so that they will hold a quarter (FIG. 4). Due to the radius of curvature of a dime, it will sit on the laterally inner portion of flange 41 while a quarter will sit on the laterally outer portion of flange 41 whereas a nickel will sit on the intermediate portion of the flange. Thus, flange 41 will be incapable of holding two dimes, nickels or quarters. With these denominations, change can be readily made as for a dollar bill. Cleats 36 additionally have tabs 42 extending from the bottom portion thereof to prevent coins from being conveyed or transported which ride upon tines 38 which extend from the upper portion of the cleats as more fully explained hereinbelow.

As seen in FIG. I, conveyor member 13 is slightly slanted with respect to a vertical axis so as to permit coins which are picked up by cleats 36 to lie against the belt during transportation. The substantially upright arrangement of the member 13 also compresses the packaging size to a convenient dimension to cooperate with the coins dumped into the hopper.

In the particular embodiment shown, the conveyor belt is reinforced with Dacron, a polyester made by Du- Pont, and is coated with an elastomer to prevent the surface from being abraided. Depending upon the particular currency utilized the width and various dimensions of the belt vary. For use with US. currency, the preferred embodiment of the belt is 3 A inches wide, 0.03 inch thick, rides about bottom roller 22 and top roller 23 which have their axis l2 inches apart, and has a tensile strength in the neighborhood of approximately 1,100 lbs. per inch although the actual loading is very slight, as on the order of pounds per inch.

Referring to FIG. 2, cleats 36 are attached to the belt on a diagonal relationship at equally longitudinal linear spaced increments so that as the cleats reach top roller 23, one coin at a time is transported to a next operation of the paper note-coin changer apparatus. It is highly desirable that only one coin is transported to the next operation which may be either stacking or sorting so that jam-ups and the like are prevented. Cleats 36 are therefore laterally spaced close enough to one another to discourage the transportation of small sized coins such as dimes which may hang up on the conveyor belt between two diagonally adjacent cleats.

To further insure that no coins are transported to the next operation by being carried on the conveyor belt between adjacent cleats, coin strippers generally indicated by the numeral 46 are located at the top of the conveyor member and exist between cleats 36 as well as at the edges of the belt as shown in FIG. 2. Coin strippers 46 generally have an acute projection 47 which is connected to a base portion 48 by spring 49. The width of the base portion is so designed so that adjacent strippers may be connected to each other with acute projections 47 being centered between cleats 36. Connection of the coin strippers may be readily effected by a projection 51 recess 52 type connection as shown in FIG. 3. Thus, any coin not located within buckets or flanges 41 of cleats 36 will be removed by coin strippers 46 which may be located on the hopper housing or on the paper note-coin changer apparatus as the cleats approach the vicinity of top roller 23. Such coins will be peeled off of the conveyor and fall back into the hopper.

In addition to coins between diagonally adjacent cleats, a coin may be located between vertically adjacent cleats by sitting edgewise upon the top of a coin located in a bucket. To prevent such coins from being transported, previously noted tabs 42 extends from the bottom of a cleat a sufficient distance so that it will engage the coin which maybe seated upon the bucket located coin. Since cleats 36 are secured to conveyor belt 13 through tines 38 and tines end portions 39 which securely grip the back of the belt, the lower portion of the cleats including tab portions 42 will be conveyed about top roller 23 in a tangential manner. Thus, once the tine portion commences travel about the top roller, tab 42 will be kicked outwardly and thus will flip off any coins situated upon the top of another coin and fall back into the hopper. Moreover, only one coin can be carried by a particular bucket since the vertical inclination of the conveyor belt and the extent of the bucket flange is such that two coins, even thin coins, as two dimes, cannot be carried. Hence, the elements of the disclosed embodiment insure that only one coin at a time per cleat is transferred to the next operation and thus assures smooth, easy and accurate operation of the paper note-coin changer apparatus.

Turning now to the operation of receptacle 10 for conveying various multiple sized coins, when the paper note-coin changer apparatus detects a low supply of coins in the various stackers, not shown, a signal is transmitted which actuates motor 34. Through the reduction gear assembly, not shown, power is transmitted to motor gear 33 which turns idler gear 32 which in turn turns drive gear 31 of the conveyor belt. The conveyor belt continuously travels about bottom roller 22 and top roller 23 in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 1. Since hopper bottom 15 is inclined towards the conveyor, the coins will slide towards the conveyor to fall into hopper chute 16 where because of the slope of the chute they are oriented on their edge and forced to bear against the conveyor belt. As the belt rotates, some of the coins will be grabbed by cleat buckets or flanges 41 and conveyed upwardly towards top roller 23. Due to the coin area bearing against the lower portion of the conveyor belt, every cleat has an ample opportunity to grab a coin. Bottom roller 22 is grooved, not shown, to prevent tines 38 and 39 from contacting the roller, which preferably has a hard aluminum coating, and causing abrasion. Due to the diagonal spacing and orientation of the cleats, only one coin at a time is delivered to the top of the conveyor belt. Due to the inclination of the conveyor belt, the coins lean against it and do not fall ofi.

The travel rate of the belt is important in that it must be slow enough to prevent coins from jamming in the next operation and yet it must be fast enough to insure quick operation. in the present embodiment described, the belt requires l9 seconds for one complete cycle which corresponds to a rate of travel of 1.37 inches per second. Upon downward movement of the coins, the coins fall into a collection box for sorting and stacking, not shown, nor a part of this invention. Since the cleats are diagonally stacked, the coins will fall one by one and hence readily permit an accurate ensuing sorting or stacking operation. When a desired amount of coins has been delivered to the dispensing portion of the paper note-coin changer apparatus, the signal will be transmitted to motor 34 to stop rotation of the conveyor belt.

When it is desired that coin hopper 11 be emptied of the coins, the hopper dump lever 61 may be manually actuated as by pulling rod 62 to the left in FIG. 1. The top of hopper dump lever 61 is pivotally attached at 61A to the paper note-coin changer apparatus and at 64 to one end of the hopper dump arm 63. The other end of dump arm 63 is pivotally attached at point 65 to chute leg 66. Hopper chute 16 is hinged to hopper bottom 15 at point 67. Also, comb 18 is attached to the hopper chute. Thus, when hopper dump lever 61 is moved to the right, it pivots about point 62 causing hopper dump arm 63 to move to the right as shown in phantom in F l6. 1 and thereby cause hopper chute 16 to pivot about hinge 65 and permitting the coins to drop. Preferably, hopper dump lever 61 upon movement to the left trips an electrical switch causing conveyor member 13 to rotate as well as causing the delivered coins to also drop out of apparatus through a mechanism not shown. This fact insures that all of the coins on the conveyor belt are removed. After the hopper and belt have been cleared of coins, dump lever 61 may be returned to its normal position and a new load of coins emptied into hopper 11. The primary purpose for the unloading linkage is of course to permit servicing or maintenance of the receptacle 11 portion of the paper note-coin changer apparatus.

It can thus be seen that the disclosed structure carries out the objects of the invention set forth above. While according to the patent statutes the best mode has been set forth such as with recept to US. currency, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention herein disclosed and described; the scope of the invention being limited solely by the scope of the attached claims.

What is claimed is: l. A receptacle for conveying multiple sized coins, comprising: a hopper; a conveyor means mounted in juxtaposition to said hopper and about at least one roller for transporting the coins,

chute means at the bottom of said hopper adjacent to said conveyor for directing the coins against said conveyor means,

said conveyor means having cleats for holding the coins during transportation,

said cleats having an outwardly extending bottom flange for holding coins,

said cleats having a tab attached thereto and depending therefrom,

said cleats having tines extending from the upper portion thereof, and said tines engaging said conveyor means so that said cleats are attached to said conveyor means and causing the locus of said cleats about said roller to be tangent to said roller.

2. A receptacle for conveying multiple sized coins as in claim 1, wherein coin strippers are mounted between said cleats adjacent to said conveyor means to remove coins held between said coin holding cleats having said flanges.

3. A receptacle for conveying multiple sized coins as in claim 2, wherein said coin strippers have an acute projection extending between said cleats to remove said coins.

4. A receptacle for conveying multiple sized coins as in claim 1, wherein a lever assembly applies tension to said conveying means.

5. A receptacle for conveying multiple sized coins as in claim 1, wherein a comb is located at the bottom of said hopper chute.

6. A receptacle for conveying multiple sized coins, comprising:

a hopper,

a conveyor means mounted in juxtaposition to said hopper for transporting the coin,

said conveyor means mounted about a roller located at the upper portion of said hopper,

said conveyor means having cleats attached thereto through the upper portion of said cleats such that the locus of said cleats about said roller are tangents, said cleats containing a tab depending therefrom,

said cleats having an outwardly extending bottom flange for holding coins,

said cleat flange having a varying lateral projection to hold coins of varying size, and

chute means at the bottom of said hopper adjacent to said conveyor for directing the coins in said conveyor means, and

said cleats diagonally spaced on said conveyor means so that multiple sized coins are continuously transported on a single basis.

7. A receptacle for conveying multiple sized coins as in claim 1, wherein said flange has a varying lateral projection to hold coins of varying thickness.

8. A receptacle for conveying multiple sized coins as in claim 7, wherein said projection is greateer at a laterally outward position.

9. A receptacle for conveying multiple sized coins as in claim 1, wherein said chute means is pivotally attached to move away from said conveyor means upon actuation of a hopper dump lever.

10. A receptacle for conveying multiple sized coins, according to claim 6, wherein coin strippers are mounted between said cleats adjacent to said conveyor belt to remove coins located between said coin holding cleats.

11. A receptacle for conveying multiple sized coins, according to claim 6, wherein a lever assembly applies tension to said conveyor means.

12. A receptacle for conveying multiple sized coins, according to claim 1 1, wherein a comb is located at the bottom of said hopper chute.

13. A receptacle for conveying multiple sized coins, according to claim 6, wherein said varying flange projection is greater at a laterally outward position.

14. A receptacle for conveying multiple sized coins, according to claim 6, wherein said chute means is pivotally attached to move away from said conveyor means upon actuation of a hopper dump lever.

15. A receptacle for conveying multiple sized coins, according to claim 11, wherein said coin strippers have an acute projection extending between said cleats to remove said coins.

16. A receptacle for conveying multiple size coins comprising, a hopper, a conveyor means mounted in juxtaposition to said hopper for transporting the coins, chute means at the bottom of said hopper adjacent to said conveyer for directing the coins against said conveyor means, said conveyor means having cleats for holding the coins during transportation, said cleats attached to said conveyer means and having an outwardly extending bottom flange for holding coins, said cleats having a tab attached thereto and depending therefrom, said cleat flange having a varying lateral projection to hold coins of varying thickness, and said projection being greater at a laterally outward position.

17. A receptacle for conveying multiple size coins according to claim 16, wherein coin strippers are mounted between said cleats adjacent to said conveyor means to remove coins located between said coin holding cleats.

18. A receptacle for conveying multiple size coins according to claim 17, wherein said coin strippers have an acute projection extending between said cleats to remove said coins.

19. A receptacle for conveying multiple size coins according to claim 16, wherein said chute means is pivotally attached to move away from said conveyer means upon actuation of a hopper dump lever. 

1. A receptacle for conveying multiple sized coins, comprising: a hopper; a conveyor means mounted in juxtaposition to said hopper and about at least one roller for transporting the coins, chute means at the bottom of said hopper adjacent to said conveyor for directing the coins against said conveyor means, said conveyor means having cleats for holding the coins during transportation, said cleats having an outwardly extending bottom flange for holding coins, said cleats having a tab attached thereto and depending therefrom, said cleats having tines extending from the upper portion thereof, and said tines engaging said conveyor means so that said cleats are attached to said conveyor means and causing the locus of said cleats about said roller to be tangent to said roller.
 2. A receptacle for conveying multiple sized coins as in claim 1, wherein coin strippers are mounted between said cleats adjacent to said conveyor means to remove coins held between said coin holding cleats having said flanges.
 3. A receptacle for conveying multiple sized coins as in claim 2, wherein said coin strippers have an acute projection extending between said cleats to remove said coins.
 4. A receptacle for conveying multiple sized coins as in claim 1, wherein a lever assembly applies tension to said conveying means.
 5. A receptacle for conveying multiple sized coins as in claim 1, wherein a comb is located at the bottom of said hopper chute.
 6. A receptacle for conveying multiple sized coins, comprising: a hopper, a conveyor means mounted in juxtaposition to said hopper for transporting the coin, said conveyor means mounted about a roller located at the upper portion of said hopper, said conveyor means having cleats attached thereto through the upper portion of said cleats such that the locus of said cleats about said roller are tangents, said cleats containing a tab depending therefrom, said cleats having an outwardly extending bottom flange for holding coins, said cleat flange having a varying lateral projection to hold coins of varying size, and chute means at the bottom of said hopper adjacent to said conveyor for directing the coins in said conveyor means, and said cleats diagonally spaced on said conveyor means so that multiple sized coins are continuously transported on a single basis.
 7. A receptacle for conveying multiple sized coins as in claim 1, wherein said flange has a varying lateral projection to hold coins of varying thickness.
 8. A receptacle for conveying multiple sized coins as in claim 7, wherein said projection is greateer at a laterally outward position.
 9. A receptacle for conveying multiple sized coins as in claim 1, wherein said chute means is pivotally attached to move away from said conveyor means upon actuation of a hopper dump lever.
 10. A receptacle for conveying multiple sized coins, according to claim 6, wherein coin strippers are mounted between said cleats adjacent to said conveyor belt to remove coins located between said coin holding cleats.
 11. A receptacle for conveying multiple sized coins, according to claim 6, wherein a lever assembly applies tension to said conveyor means.
 12. A receptacle for conveying multiple sized coins, according to claim 11, wherein a comb is located at the bottom of said hopper chute.
 13. A receptacle for conveying multiple sized coins, according to claim 6, wherein said varying flange projection is greater at a laterally outward position.
 14. A receptacle for conveying multiple sized coins, according to claim 6, wherein said chute means is pivotally attached to move away from said conveyor means upon actuation of a hopper dump lever.
 15. A receptacle for conveying multiple sized coins, according to claim 11, wherein said coin strippers have an acute projection extending between said cleats to remove said coins.
 16. A receptacle for conveying multiple size coins comprising, a hopper, a conveyor means mounted in juxtaposition to said hopper for transporting the coins, chute means at the bottom of said hopper adjacent to said conveyer for directing the coins against said conveyor means, said conveyor means having cleats for holding the coins during transportation, said cleats attached to said conveyer means and having an outwardly extending bottom flange for holding coins, said cleats having a tab attached thereto and depending therefrom, said cleat flange having a varying lateral projection to hold coins of varying thickness, and said projection being greater at a laterally outward position.
 17. A receptacle for conveying multiple size coins according to claim 16, wherein coin strippers are mounted between said cleats adjacent to said conveyor means to remove coins located between said coin holding cleats.
 18. A receptacle for conveying multiple size coins according to claim 17, wherein said coin strippers have an acute projection extending between said cleats to remove said coins.
 19. A receptacle for conveying multiple size coins according to claim 16, wherein said chute means is pivotally attached to move away from said conveyer means upon actuation of a hopper dump lever. 